Grumbles over rumbles from demolition job

NOISE and rumblings from the redevelopment of an Oxford college are “far beyond what is tolerable”, residents have said.

They have reported vibrations in their homes from the demolition of the south and west sides of Ruskin College, in Walton Street.

The plan – for 90 new study rooms for Exeter College students in a quadrangle – was approved by Oxford City Council in April.

Worcester Place resident Christopher Johnson said work was “in excessive levels of noise and vibration far beyond what is tolerable in a narrow residential street”.

Walton Street’s Carole Moore described the situation as “unbelievably wretched”. The academic said the situation made it difficult to work from home during the day.

Construction firm Mace said it had not expected to find deep-piled foundations under the brick-built 1980s block.

A spokesman said: “Any major demolition and construction project will require the use of heavy equipment and Walton Street is no exception.”

The first phase of demolition has been completed but a more intensive phase is expected to continue until the end of this autumn.

The firm added that equipment had been carefully selected and damping measures such as screening and noise monitoring were being carried out.

A city council spokesman said: “Officers last week looked into complaints from several residents about noise and vibration from the site.

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“We were advised that the contractors were investigating alternative measures to remove (parts of) the foundations to reduce the impact of this activity.”

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